Coach Sports in Costa Rica with Projects Abroad

  Costa Rica

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year Round (you set the start and end date)

Description: With a population of around 3.9 million Costa Rica have a good record of producing talented footballers and are now widely considered the rising star of FIFA's North and Central American CONCACAF region. Players from Costa Rica have a rare ability to combine strength and power with spectacular skill. The fans also always show a great passion for the game, which was highlight & by the traveling supporters to various recent World Cup tournaments, in 1990, 2002 & 2006. The future looks bright for Costa Rican football.

There are many children in Costa Rica who wish to participate in sports projects but for some a lack of resources means limited opportunity. Through our football project in Costa Rica young players are given a proper chance to take part.

Everyone gets involved: teachers, volunteers, parents and coaches. As a soccer coach in Costa Rica, you will be responsible for the development of young soccer players' basic skills and techniques. You will co-ordinate and plan coaching sessions to develop - for example - ball control, accurate passing, keeping possession and moving into space. The age of the children means they are at an ideal stage to be taught the basics and to learn the foundations for their future. However, at the same time, it's really important that playing soccer is about enjoyment and participation. This makes your role easier as these children all have a real passion for sports and are eager to be involved. Your job, with the help of your supervisor, is to make sure the fun and the desire both continue.

Other tasks include planning game strategies, taking practice games and probably assisting in team selection too. So if you have coaching experience - or just a love of soccer - you can play a major part in this progressive sporting experience.

Coach Football to Children with Projects Abroad

As part of our football project in Costa Rica you will work within a local school assisting the physical education teachers with their classes. The main focus is on football, but you may also assist with improving general fitness and any other activities the sports teachers would like your help with.
The children are aged between about 5 and 13 and the local physical education teachers are keen to have the help of volunteers with new ideas who can help coach the children. A few schools do not even have a physical education teacher, so please let us know if you have experience and would be happy taking on more responsibility in a school that lacks sports coaching staff.

You may sometimes be asked to help with coaching after school has finished in the afternoons and evenings and there will often be matches scheduled at the weekends too. Some of the schools have football teams that compete in an after school Little League that it may also be possible to get involved in.

Your Role Volunteering Abroad on a Football Project in Costa Rica

As a football coach in Costa Rica you will help to develop young footballers basic skills and techniques. Volunteers will work with the local teacher to help coordinate and plan coaching sessions to develop - for example ball-control, accurate passing, keeping possession and moving into space. The age of the children means they are at an ideal age to be taught the basics and to learn the foundations for their future.

At the same time, however, it is really important at this age that playing football is about enjoyment and participation. This makes your role easier as these children all have a real passion for sport and are eager to be involved. Your role as a sports volunteer, with the help of your supervisor, is to make sure the fun and the desire both continue.

Other tasks include planning match strategies, taking practice games and probably assisting in team selection too. So if you have sport coaching experience or just a love of football - you can play a major part in this progressive sporting experience.

Highlights: For your accommodation, you'll live with a Spanish speaking host-family, which is a great environment for developing and improving your language skills. All the families involved are extremely supportive of the placements carried out by Projects Abroad and are eager to experience an inter-cultural exchange and learn about the lives of volunteers.

Costa Rica is Central America's jewel. It's an oasis of calm among its turbulent neighbors and an ecotourism heaven, making it one of the best places to experience the tropics with minimal impact. It's also mostly coastline, both Caribbean and Pacific, which means great surfing, beaches galore and a climate built for laziness.

In addition, this project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: None.

Cost in US$: From USD 2,895 and up

* Food and accommodation
* Transfers to and from the airport
* Full travel and medical insurance plus support
* 24 hour back-up from our staff based around the world

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992